Tooth exerciser



July 28, 1931. HERON 1,816,582

TOOTH EXERCI SER Filed April 1-3, 1929 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 28, 1931 PATENT. OFFICE DONA LD D. HERON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENFI'SYLVANIA TOOTH EXERCISER Application filed A ril 13,

This invention relates to dental appliances and more in particular to devices for exercising the teeth and massaging the gums.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a device for exercising the teeth, by mastication, to prevent the decay thereof, to strengthen them. and. also to harden the gums. A further object is to provide a tooth exerciser which will carry its beneficial efl'ects to'the roots of the teeth as well as to the visible parts thereof. 'Another object of this invention is to provide a tooth exercising device which may be a readily applied to thehandle of any commercial type of tooth brush, thereby offering a better hold for'thehandle and being in the most advantageous position to suggest its use after each tooth-cleaning operation.

1 Still another object is to provide a device which is of very simple construction and use, and which can be manufactured at low cost. Additional features and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating my device as applied to'the handle of a tooth brush.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the simplest embodiment of my invention. I

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2. I Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified construction of the tooth exerciser.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another modification. 1

Fig. 6.is an end view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows still another modification of the invention.

i Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 7. V

It is now a generally recognized fact in dentistry that the lack of suflicientexercise of the teeth, by mastication, isone of the primary causes of many 'dentahafilictions, such as decay, brittleness, pyorrhea of the gums, etc., etc. The bad effects of lack of tiewbf the beaom side exercise of the teeth are especially accentuated in cases of malPOSItIOII01'.II1ELlOCClI1S10I1 of the teeth,'since the latter can not be properly exercised'without causing a consider verse movements.

1929. Serial N0. 354,775.

able amount of discomfortor pain to the person so afllicted.

By proper exercise of the teeth, there is developed in the tissues-thereof greatly increased hardness and resistance against decintly sta.ted,-the tooth brush takes care of the exterior of the teeth only, whereas the tooth exerciser of my invention benefits the inner structure and the roots of the teeth.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the simplest form of my invention comprises a prismatic body portion 1 made of resilient, non absorbent material, such as rubber, of suitable consistency to yieldingly resist the biting action of the teeth, and of suitable length to be engaged by several teeth at a time.

The body portion has a straight top 2 arid I an inwardly arcuate bottom 3 which latter is useditor massaging the teeth and the guns by combined longitudinal and trans- The large, substantially parallel sides 4 and 5 are the biting surfaces and they are concaved, as at 6, to afford a better grip for the teeth and prevent the exerciser from slipping out from between theteeth. Asshown, the concave portions are straight at the top and below they follow an arcuate outline concentric with the bottom 3. Near the top is located a substantially rectangular aperture 7 extending longitudinally of the body and adapted to receive the outer end of the handle of the tooth brush B, Fig. 1. The tooth exerciser is held on the handle by its own elasticity, no cementing orgluing means being used, and it may be readily applied onto another brush, whenever required. Below the aperture 7 there is another longitudinal aperture 8, the purpose of which is to lend more front end of the tooth exerciser has been handle therein and the other aperture serv- F5 ciser.

resiliency tothe bitten portion of the exerciser.

The modified'construction shown in Fig. 4 differs from'the one just described in that transverse corrugations 9 are provided on the bottom 3 to increase the massaging action of the device, In the modification shown in F 1g. 5, the

bevelled and rounded off at the top, to afford better access to the teeth and gums in the back of the mouth. Aside from this difference, the construction is identical with the onealready described. I

Instead of using transverse corrugations, as shown in' Figs. 4: and 5, the bottom side of the device may be provided with teats 11,-or other protuberances, disposed preferably in staggered relation for massaging the teeth and gums. This is illustrated in I Figs. 7 and 8. I

As will be understood, the exercising of the teeth consists in taking the exerciser be-- tween the teeth and. biting thereon repeatedly and then shifting the position of'the, exerciser until all teeth have been properly treated. 'The massaging action consists in rubbing the arcuate portion 3 of the exerciser bver the teeth and gums by describing a combined longitudinal and transversal movement of the device. Thisincreases the circulation of the blood and also promotes the flow of saliva.

From the above description, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, dperation and ad- ,vantages of my invention may be had, and v while'I have shown and described my invention as embodying specific structures or forms, I desire to reserve the right to Imake such changes in the device as donot depart from the spirit and scope of the; appended claim.

' I claim A tooth exerciser comprising a prismatic body portion made of resilient non-absorbent material having two concave, smooth and substantially parallel sides adapted to .be engaged simultaneously by the teeth, and

an inwardly arcuate bottom portion; said body portion having two longitudinal apertures, one of said apertures being adapted to resiliently secure and closely engage a ing to increase'theresiliency of 'said exe1f= whereof I aifix my signature.

In testimony DONALD D. HERON. 

